Receptacle for papers and letters.



- Patented Sept; 9, I902.- n. F. BENNETT. I

BECEPTACLE FOR PAPERS AND LETTERS.

(Application filed May 1, 1902.)

(No Modl.)

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UNITED STATES I PATENT 1 OFFICE.

DELBERT F. BENNETT, BEDDING, CALIFORNIA.

RECEPTAQLE FOR P'APERS AND LETTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,617, dated September 9, 1902.

Application filed May 1, l 902. Serial No. 1051537. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it nuty concern: 1

Beit known that I, DELBERT F. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Redding, in the county of Shasta and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Receptacles for Papers and Letters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail-boxes and it consists in an improved device for receiving andholding papers and letters which may be delivered by the mail-carrier at residences and places of business, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of my improved device for receiving papers and other mail-matter. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the receptacle, showing its position when secured to a door or other upright.

A designates the main casing, the same being cylindrical in form and preferably constructed of sheet metal, with an openingB in its lower part which extends from one end of the casing to the other. The casing A is provided with the circular heads 0, having inward flanges c at their edges, which 'inclose the ends of the main portion of said casing.

D indicates a cleat, of wood or othersuitable material, which is made fast to the easing on the inside of its rear edge, where the receptacle may be secured to a door or other vertical plane, as shown in Fig. 3, the cleat D being perforated for nails or screws- E indicates a spring which serves to support and retain the letters and papers deposited in the receptacle by the mail-carrier and consists of a stout piece of wire, the two ends of which are made fast to the cleat D, to the rear partof the casing,rthe two points of attachment of the said wire being a suitable distance apart. Coils d are formed in the wire just over the cleat D, said coils resting .on the cleat, and the main part of the wire is extended forward in the form of a large loop, the wire being bent as shown in Figs. 2 and I 3 and the part e forming a finger-piece which extends beyond the front portion of the casing A, the edge of the latter being bent to form bend f, against which the spring E bears when it is closed. Thus a convenient and cheap device is furnished for receiving papers or letters, which device may be secured to a door,fence, or other upright, and the mail-matter inclosed by the receptacle is well protected from the weather. The carrier in delivering the mail-matter simply handles the finger-piece, pressing downward the spring E, inserts the papers in the receptacle, and the spring closes automatically.

I claim In a device for receiving and holding papers and letters a cylindrical casing having two circular heads secured to the main portion of the casing and a longitudinal downward opening extending from end to end, the upper part of the device being closed, a cleat fastened to the rear part and inside of said casing, and a spring of wire, the ends of which are secured to said cleat, said wire being provided with coils d and extended forward in the form of a loop and bent to form a finger-piece e, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DELBERT F. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

E. ASHFIELD, J. W. GIRDNER. 

